He was Governor of Plymouth Colony for 18 years, as well as Assistant Governor, Treasurer, Commissioner and member of the Council of War at various times.Authored by Larry Overmire

Religion:

Note:

Governor Thomas did not believe in religious tolerance and set about persecuting the Quakers and Baptists.Authored by Larry Overmire

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Thomas Prence came to Plymouth on the "Fortune" in November of 1621 at the age of twenty-two, and from the beginning seemed to have taken a leading role in Plymouth affairs. Of the eight Plymouth Undertakers, who seemed to be the most important men in the colony in 1627, Prence was the only one who had not arrived on the Mayflower. He became governor in 1634, and was elected an Assistant in 1635,and from then on he was either an Assistant or governor every year for the rest of his life. He also served as treasurer, as president of the Council of War, and in various other capacities. With the death of Bradford in 1657, Prence became without doubt the most important and influential man in the colony. He was of a conservative nature, as is shown by his siding with Bradford and Winslow in the 1645 Vassall controversy, and by his actions against the Quakers. He was involved in several law suits which were decided in his favor, such as 1650, when Strong Fumell of Boston submitted a written humble apology to the court for having evily slandered Mr. Prence after the latter sued him for 200 pounds damage. In1665 as compensation for having required Prence, as governor, to reside in Plymouth, the court ordered that he would be paid 50 pounds per yearas long as he remained governor, and he was given a house in the Plain Dealing area of Plymouth as a residence (in 1668, at his request, the court sold him that house for 150 pounds). He engaged in many land transactions, and he died a wealthy man,leaving a personal estate in excess 400 pounds and some eleven tracts ofland, at least two of them containing 100 acres each. He was no doubt chagrined over Arthur Howland's eventually successful suit for the hand of his daughter Elizabeth, and he probably was not happy over the marriage of two of his daughters to sons of Edmond Freeman. The mention in his will of his deceased son Thomas' daughter Susanna Prence would indicate that he died without surviving male issue in the Prence line. His reputation for intolerance, particularly toward the Quakers, hasclouded over his extensive service to the colony. He presided over thecourt in the very sane and reasonable handling of Plymouth's first witchcraft trial in 1661. He dealt in a humane way with the Indians, and missionary Thomas Mayhew wrote of his "gentle and kind dealing" with them, and he also presided over the court as governor in 1638 when the momentous decision was made to execute the white men who had murdered an Indian. He showed wisdom in 1637 when he negotiated with the Massachusetts men who unjustly demanded much of the land on the Connecticut River that Plymouth had purchased from the Indians and he advocated and brought about a free school system in the colony. "Thomas Prence Esquire Govr: of the Jurisdiction of New Plymouth Died the 29th of March 1673 and was Interred the 8th of Aprill following; after hee had served God in the office of Govr: sixteen yeares or neare therunto hee finished his Course in the 73 yeare of his life; hee was a worthy Gentleman very pious; and very able for his office and faithfull in the Discharge therof studious of peace a welwiller to all that feared god; and a terrour to the wicked, his; Death was much lamented, and his body honorably buryed att Plymouth the Day and yeare abovemensioned" (Plym. Col. B. M. B., p. 39). "Governor Prence arrived at Plymouth Colony in 1621 on the 'Fortune'. Of the eight 'Plymouth Undertakers, who seemed to be the most important men in the colony in 1627, Prence was the only one who has not arrived on the 'Mayflower'. He became Governor in 1634 and was elected an Assistant in 1635. From then on he was either an Assistant or Governor every year until his death in 1673. He also served as treasurer, as president of the Council of War, etc. With the death of Bradford in 1657, Prence became, without doubt, 'the most important and influential man in the Colony'." "In 1644 he moved to Eastham. He was later induced to move back to Plymouth by a gift of a large farm, 'Plain Dealing'. In 1665, as compensation for having required Prence, as Governor, to reside in Plymouth, the court ordered that he would be paid 50 pounds per year as long as he remained Governor. In addition, he was given a house in the Plain Dealing area of Plymouth as a residence and in 1668, at his request, the court sold him that house for 150 pounds. He engaged in many land transactions and he died a wealthy man, leaving a personal estate in excess of 400 pounds and some eleven tracts of land, at least two of them containing 100 acres each." "Prence was of a conservative nature and it is said that his reputation for intolerance, particularly toward the Quakers, has clouded over his extensive service to the Colony. It is said he presided over the court in a very sane and reasonable handling of Plymouth's first witchcraft trial in 1661, and that he dealt with the Indians in a humane way." Text of his will to be entered, as well as details of his inventory. "Establishing the probable date of marriage for Apphia and Thomas Prence has significant implications for the parentage of Prence's last three children. Apphia is last seen as a Freeman 1 July 1644, about a year before the birth of Prence's seventh child, and at the end of a six-year heatus in the birthdates of his children. She is called "Mrs. Freeman" as late as 15 October 1646 in a deed where she appears as an abutter, but this does not necessarily imply that she had not remarried by this date, since it was not unusual for archaic ounds to be used in this sort of description." Details to be entered., "Mr. Thomas Prence, gentleman, d. 29 Mch 1673 ae. 72: 'a wellwiller to all that feared God and a terrour to the wicked.' He came to Plymouth in the Fortune in Nov 1621, removed to Duxbury 1635, to Eastham 1644, and later returned to Plymouth. Governor of the Colony of New Plymouth for about sixteen years." "It has been asserted that he was subsequently married [after Mary Collier], but there appears no conclusive proof of the fact. The assertion rests upon two significant declarations which are are yet inexplicable. First, the declaration of Gov. Prence in 1662 and 1671 that Samuel Freeman of Eastham was his 'beloved son-in-law', and secondly, upon the injunction of Captain Thomas Howes of Yarmouth, i 1676, upon going forth in the expedition to the Narraganset country to fight the Indians, to allow 'Mother Prence to enjoy without molestation, during her natural life, the house she now lives in.' The births of the children of Gov. Prenc, by his wives Patience and Mary, are not recorded either at Plymouth or Eastham." Father: Thomas PRENCE b: ABT 1575 in Leclade, CG, England Mother: Elizabeth TOLDERBY b: ABT 1577 in Lechlade, CG, England Marriage 1 Patience BREWSTER Married: 5 AUG 1624 in Plymouth, MA 5 4 Marriage 2 Mary COLLIER b: bef 18 Feb 1611/1612 in Southwark, CS, England Marriage 3 Apphia QUICK Marriage 4 Mary b: ABT 1603 in England Married: 1668 12 Sources: Text: Dudley G. Brown, Sr.'s Pedigree Charts, 4524 Forest Wood Trail, Sarasota, FL. Text: Information supplied by Dave Wilma (DavidWilma@aol.com) accessed by GENDEX. Type: Book Author: Robert Charles Anderson Periodical: The Great Migration Begins Publication: (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995) Type: Periodical Author: Josiah Paine Title: Early Settlers of Eastham Periodical: Library of Cape Cod History & Genealogy, No. 32 & 33 Type: Book Author: Henry James Young Periodical: George Eldridge, Hydrographer and Eliza Jane his wife; Their Ancestors and their Descendants Publication: (Carlisle, PA: privately printed, 1982) Type: Periodical Author: [Anonymous] Title: Thomas Prence Periodical: The Mayflower Quarterly Date: (August, 1967) Text: Pedigree Chart from Nancy D. Adams, 1526 Pelican Point Drive, Sarasota, FL 34231-6792. Type: Periodical Author: James W. Hawes Title: Thomas Howes of Yarmouth, Mass., and some of his Descendants Periodical: Cape Cod Library of Local History & Genealogy, No. 31 Type: Book Author: Charles A. Collier Periodical: The Story of our Branch of the Collier Family Publication: (Santa Barbara, CA: Privately printed, 1975) Type: Book Author: Justin Winsor Periodical: History of the Town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, with Genealogical Registers Publication: (Boston: Crosby & Nichols, 1849) Type: Periodical Author: Robert S. Wakefield Title: The Children of William Collier Periodical: The American Genealogist Date: (October, 1973) Type: Book Periodical: Bassett-Preston Ancestry

Richardson/Ellsworth Gen, p. 67-8.

4th Gov. of Plymouth Colony 1633, 35, 38, 57, 73Bowen, Richard LeBaron. Early Rehoboth, Privately Printed, Rehoboth,1950, Vol. I, p. 30Deed 29 Mar. 1653 "Ousamequin Sachem and Wamsitto his eldest son for L35 sterling sell to Thomas Prence, Thomas Willett, Myles Standish, Josiah Winslow, gentlemen, in behalf of themselves anddiverse others, 'severall prcells and neckes of upland Swamps andmeddowes lying and beinge on the southerly side of Sinkcunke els Rehoboth bounds...bounded from a little brook of water called by the Indians Mosskititusash westerly and soe ranging by a Dead Swamp Eastward...unto the great river with all the meddow in and about the sides of both the branches of the great river with all the creeks and brookes that are in or upon any of the said Meddow as also all the mersh meddow lying and being without the bounds before mencioned in or about the necke called by the Indians Chachacust; also, all meddow of any kind lying an being att or about Popasquash necke as alsoe all the meddow lying from the bay to keccomewett on both sides or any Joying to it or the Bay on eich side...and the Qusamequin and Wamsitto Doe alsoe covenant promise and grant that when soever the Indians shall remove from ye necke that then and from thenceforth (the grantees) shall enter upon the same agreement as theire proper right and enterest".Witnessed 29 Mar. 1653 by JohnBrowne, James Browne and Richard Garrett. (Plymouth Colony Deeds, vol, II, Pt. I, p. 78; Sowams Records, pp.8.9)This transferred that tract of land known as Sowams.Plymouth Colony Deeds (39) 1752 Bradford Govnr The names of those whoe by order of and agreement of the purchase (worn) meet at Plymouth to make Purchase and Devision of the Lands as areat Sowamsett and Mattapoisett the 7th of March 1652 whoe are to havetheire severall ptes or moyeties Layed out att the places above expressed; And are to make and to satisfy the purchase and all other charges arising theupon according to theire severall proportions. Their names are as follow; Mr Willam Bradford one Moyetie, Mr Thomas Prence one halfe pte, Mr Edward Winslow all his portion, Capt: Myles Standish his halfe pte, Capt: Thomas Willett his pte, Mr. White his pte, Mr Cushman his whole pte, Mr. John Winslow all his pte., John Addams his whole proportion, Experience Michell his halfe pte, Thomas Clarke his halfe pteGreat Migration Begins, 1518. From All Saints Barking, London [EIHC17:103-01]Freeman of Plymouth 1633. "Thomas Prence, gen.," is in the 7 Mar 1636/7 list of Plymouth freeman [MBCR 1:52]. Inventory included a long list of books valued at L14 2d., including two great Bibles and "100 of psalm books." Governor Plymouth 1634, 38, 57-72 [MA Civil List 35].Assistant, Plymouth Colony 1632/33, 1635-7, 1639-56 [PCR 1:32, 36, 48, 116, 140, 15, 33, 40, 52, 56, 71, 83 115; MA Civil List 37-8]Treasurer, 1637 [PCR 1:48, MA Civil List 36]. Council of War 1637 [PCR1:60, PTR 1:16].Commissioner for the United Colonies 1645, 1650,1653-8, 1661-3, 1670-72 [MA Civil List 28-9].In Plymouth section of 1643 Plymouth Colony list of men able to bear arms [PCR 8:188].Thomas Prence received grants of land, 1 July 1633, 14 Mar 1635/6, 20 Mar 1636/7 meadow at Jones River; 6 mar 1636/7 land between two cedar swamps at Island Creeke Pond; 5 Feb 1637/8 all the land between Greenes Harbor and South River; 2 Apr 1638 a garden place; 5 Nov 1638 ten acres of land "in some convenient place about the town", 3 Dec 1638 an acre and a half at Smilt River; 2 Dec 1639 a parcel between John Barnes's garden and George Watson's field; 16 Sept 1641 an enlargement at the head of his Joanes River lot: 17 Oct 1642 an additional six acres at Joanes River; 2 Oct 1650 granted rights to bass fisihig at Cape Cod [PCR 1:14, 40, 51, 56, 77, 83, 102, 103, 136, 142, 163, 2:26, 40, 161]. He exchanged landwith John Combe, Phinehas Pratt and John Barnes [PCR 1:25, 30, 12: 197].On 14 Sept 1638 Mr. Thomas Prence purchased two acres of land on the south side of the second brook from Ellinor Billington and Francis Billington [PCR 12:37]. On 20 May 1643 he contributed 6d to buy drumheads and L14 to buy bread [PTR 1:14-15].About 1645 Mr. Thomas Prence acknowledged that he had sold to Mr. Edmond Freeman all his house and garden place and barn in Plymouth, ten acres of upland in the woods and five acres in the second brook, and eleven acres by John Barnes's land and one farm at Jonaes river [PCR12:129-30].On 11 July 1649 Mr. Thomas Prence of Nawset, gentleman, sold to Jacob Cooke of Plymouth, planter, forty acres of upland in Rocky Noocke with three ares of marsh [PCR 12: 175].On 13 July 1649 Mr. Thomas Prence of Nawset, gentleman, sold to Richard Church of Nawset, carpenter, and to Anthony Snow of Marshfield, feltmaker, upland and marsh at Marshfifled and forty acres of upland received by grant dated 5 JFeb 647 [PCR 12: 176]. etc.On 8 Dec 1662 Thomas Prence deeded to "my son [i.e. stepson] Samuell Freeman and Mercye his wife the house and land Samuel now dwelleth in." {PCLR 3:201].On 20 Sept 1664 Thomas Prence deeded to John Freeman of Eastham "all tht his upland and meadow lying on the southeast side of the great Namskekett, vix: a parcel of upland containing eight acres...with five acres of meadow"; also two acres of meadow with ten acres of upland. [PCLR 3: 28].On 14 Nov 1669 Thomas Prence exchanged one hundred acres"of upland lying upon the Pachague Neck of the southerly side of Tetictt River" with "Mrs. Alice Bradford the executrix of Mr. William Bradford, "receiving in return " a half share of Purchase Land at Satuckett, be it forty-five acres more or less, and also the one-half of twenty-five acres of meadow" [PCLR 3: 171].On 2 May 1670 Thomas Prence of Plymouth, Gent., sold to Tommas Paine of Eastham, cooper, "all my one-half share ofPurchase Land at Paomett," with the consent of "Mrs. Prence" [PCLR5:480].On 25 July 1672 Thomas Prence, Esquire, Governor of New Plymouth, deeded to John Freeman Sr. of Eastham "one parcel of land containing thirty acres:; "another parcel of land contianing eight acres. . .of swamp and upland"; "one other parcel of marshland, containing twenty-four acres"; "also forty acres of upland"; "also forty acres of upland"; "also fifteen acres of upland"; and "also five acres of upland" [PCLR 3: 278].

Will of Thomas Prence 13 Mar 1672/3, pvd 5 June 1673,"Thomas Prence being at present weak in body" bequeathed to "Mary my beloved wife...such household goods of any kind as were hers before we married, returned to her again, after my decease, and if any of them be much impaired or be wanting, that she shall make it good out of my estate in such goods as she desireth"; to "my said loving wife my best bed and the furniture thereunto appertaining, and the court cupboard that now stands in the new parlor with the cloth and cushion that is on it, and an horse and three cows such as she shall make choice of, and four of my best silver spoons, and also during her natural life, I give her the rents and profits of my part of the mill at Satuckett, and of the lands adjoining, and my debts and legacies being first paid, I do further give unto my said wife a full third part of my personal estate that remains"; to "my daughter Jane the wife of Marke Snow my silver tankard"; to "my daughter Mary Tracye a silver wine cup and a dram cup"; to "my daughter Sarah Howes my biggest beer bowl"; to "my daughter Elizabeth Howland my silver salt"; to "my grandchild Theophilus Mayo and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten, the one half of my lands and meadows at or near Namassakett in the township of Middleberry"; "I give give unto my grandchild Susanna Prence the daughter of my deceased son Thomas Prence, the other half of my above mentioned lands and meadows at Middleberry aforesaid"; in the absence of an heirs of these grandchildren, the abovesaid lands to revert to "my daughters, or such of them as shall be then surviving, or theirheirs if all my daughters should be dead"; "to my said grandchild Theophilus, and to his heirs forever, my part of the mill and lands adjacent at Satuckett after the decease of my wife, and this I give for his encouragement to proceed in learning"; residue divided between "my seven daughter, Hannah, Marcye, Jane, Mary Elizabeth, Sarah and Judith, and my above mentioned granchild Susanna Prence"; Mary "my beloved wife sole executrix"; "my loving friend Major Josias Winslow to be helpful therein." A codicil to the will bequeathed "to Mr. John Freeman Speed's Cronicle and Wilson's Dictionary and the abridgment, and Simpson's History of the Church and Newman's Concordance"; to "my daughter Elizaebeth Howland a black heifer" ; a little yellow heifer to Lydia Sturtivant; to "my daughter Jane a bed, and other bed to my daughter Elizabeth Howland"; to "my grandson Theophilus Mayo all my books fit for him in learning, and if he carry it well to his grandmother I then give him a bed"; also "I desire my brother Thomas Clarke to be helpful to my wife as need may require" [MD 3:204-06, citing PCPR 3:1:58-9].On 10 Jun 1673 John Freeman, Jonathan Sparrow, John Tracy, Mark Snow, Jeremiah Howes, Arthur Howland and Isaac Barner receipted to "our mother-in-law Mrs. Mary Prence late wife and executrix to our father Thomas Prence Esquire deceased" for their shares of the estate of Thomas Prence [MD 33:97-100 (with photograph of the unrecorded original)]On 10 Jun 1676 Josiah Winslow, Esquire, "attorney for ...Susanna Prence at Catheren Gate near the Tower in London..., singlewoman"; and John Freeman in the right of Mary his wife and as attorney for "Mary Prence, relict and executrix of the last will and testament of the honored Thomas Prence, late Governor...deceased," and of Jonathan Sparrow and Hannah his wife, Marke Snow and Jane his wife, and Jeremiah Howes and Sarah his wife, daughters of the said Thomas Prence; and John Tracye and Mary his wife, Arthur Howland and Elizabeth his wife, and Isacke Barker and Judith his wife, daughters also of the said Thomas Prence, sold to Constant Southworth, treasurer and agent of Plymouth Colony, "all that our dwelling house, messuage or tenement" in Plymouth "at a place commonly called Plain Dealing"; signed by Josiah Winslow, John Freeman, John Trasye, Arthur Howland and Isack Barker [PCLR 4: 124] "Thomas Prence, Esquire, Governor of the jurisdiction of New Plymouth, died the 29 of March, 1673, and was interred the 8th of April following. After he had served God in the office of Governor sixteen years, or near thereunto, he fininshed his course in the 73 year of his life. He was a worthy gentleman, very pious, and very able for his office, and faithful in the discharge thereof, studious of peace, a wellwiller to all that feared God, and a terror to the wicked. His death was much laamented, and his body honorably buried at Plymouth the day and year above mentioned" [PCR 8:34; see also MD3: 103-04])On 6 Mar 1637/8, having been elected governor, Thomas Prence was excused from the requirement that the governor live in Plymouth, and was permitted to retain his residence in Duxbury [PCR 1:79]. When he was again elected governor, in 1657, he was allowed to maintain his residence in Eastham, but in 1663 the court ordered that the governor's house at Plymouth be enlarged, and by 1665 Prence again became a resident of Plymouth [Dawes]Gates 2:684]Plymouth VR Shurtleff, p. 34Tomas Prence, Esquire, Gour of the jurisiction ofNew Plymouth, died the 29th of March, 1673, and was interred the 8th of Aprill following. After hee had serued God in the office of Gour sixteen yeares, or neare thervnto, hee finished his course in the 73 yeare of his life. Hee was a worthy gentleman, very pious, and very able for his office, and faithfull in the discharge therof, studious of peace, a welwiller to all that feared God, and a terrour to the wicked. His death was much lamented and his body honorably buryed att Plymouth the day and yeare aboue mensioned.

Dennis Historical Commission He was one of the three original proprietors of Yarmouth . He settled at Nobscusset on the north side of Cape Cod, which afterwards became part of the town of Dennis .Aug 1643 was able to bear arms in Plymouth (was between 16-60 years of age).2 Jun 1646 was foreman of the Grand Jury.7 Jun 1648 he was foreman of a jury.7 Jun 1651 he was on a jury.7 Jun 1652 named as a Deputy to the General Court from Yarmouth .5 Oct 1652 he was appointed to receive the oil for the county, by the Colonial Treasurer.6 Jun 1654 he was on the Grand Jury.5 March 1656/7 it was accused that he and Anthony Thatcher had purchased lands of Janno, an Indian Sachem, and had not paid. 8 May 1657 Mashantampaine, Sagamore of Yarmouth, acknowledged that he had recieved full compensation.5 Oct 1658 deed was recorded of a purchase of land in Yarmouth from Barbara and Capt. Myles Standish.9 Jun 1662 was on the committee to take the Colonial Treasurers AccounWill dtaed 26 Sept 1665 He made his wife Mary executrix. He gave certain lands to his sons Joseph, Thomas, and Jeremy after his wife's decease.(Cape Cod Library, Volume I, Thomas Howes of Yarmouth , Mass. , and Some of His Descendants)1635-6, with his wife Mary Burr, came to America . Having spent 1637-8 in Salem , they settled in that part of Yarmouth which is now Dennis, on Cape Cod .THOMAS HOWES and his wife Mary Burr settled in Nobscussett, Yarmouth , MA , March, 1639. He died in 1665, aged 75 years.It has been estimated that from this pair there are now 5,000 descendants in the United States .(Howes Genealogy, page 3-4) Title: Cape Cod Library, Volume I, Thomas Howes of Yarmouth , Mass. , and Some of His DescendantsPage: 422Title: Howes GenealogyPage: 4Title: Cape Cod Library, Volume I, Thomas Howes of Yarmouth , Mass. , and Some of His DescendantsPage: 428Title: Cape Cod Library, Volume I, Thomas Howes of Yarmouth , Mass. , and Some of His DescendantsPage: 423Title: Cape Cod Library, Volume I, Thomas Howes of Yarmouth , Mass. , and Some of His DescendantsPage: 424

Name: Sturgis Library3090 Main Street (Rte 6A)Village of Barnstable, Massachusetts 02630 United States

Quality: 3Text: Date of Import: Dec 7, 2003

Media: BookAbbrev: New England Historical and Genealogical RegisterTitle: New England Historical and Genealogical RegisterAuthor: New England Historical and Genealogical SocietyPublication: New England Historical Genealogical Society10 Newbury StreetBoston, Massachusetts 02116Copyrighted by the New England Historic Genealogical SocietyNote: The NEHGR or "Register" is the oldest and best known genealogical publication in North America. It focuses primarily on the genealogy of New England and the northeastern United States.Repository:

Name: Sturgis Library3090 Main Street (Rte 6A)Village of Barnstable, Massachusetts 02630 United States

Page: Vol. IX: 317Quality: 3Note: Plymouth Colony Records

Media: BookAbbrev: Grave Marker InscriptionTitle: Grave Marker InscriptionQuality: 3Text: Here lies buried among their progenyThomas Howes and wife, Mary (Burr)First of the name in this countryEnglish immigrants to Massachusetts Bay Colony circa 1637Original settlers of this town in 1639Their homestead farm adjoined this burying ground

Abbrev: Diana.gedTitle: Diana.gedRepository:

Name: Sturgis Library3090 Main Street (Rte 6A)Village of Barnstable, Massachusetts 02630 United States

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